2018 IMSA Continental Tire Challenge: New class, new cars

TCR class joins the lineup; GS class adopts GT4-spec cars

January 25, 2018

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It’s the final year for the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge -- not the series itself, but the name: In 2019, we’ll call it the IMSA Michelin SportsCar Challenge, reflecting the fact that Michelin outbid Continental for IMSA “official tire” status, which applies to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as well.

But for 2018, about the only thing that doesn’t change for the support series, which periodically features better racing than the WeatherTech Championship it supports, is its name.

In 2017, the CTSC raced two classes -- Grand Sport and Street Tuner. Both remain, but they're joined by TCR, a class that started in Europe. Grand Sport also is undergoing some changes, with the adoption of the also-European GT4 specifications, and that means a lot of new cars and some new manufacturers for 2018.

The No. 31 Rumcastle LLC Volkswagen Golf GTI will race in the new TCR class this season. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Of the 40 cars entered in a preseason test at Daytona International Speedway, only five were ST cars -- two Porsche Caymans, two Mini Coopers, and a BMW 328i. That class will likely be absorbed by TCR, which also races compact cars, such as the Audi RS3 LMS TCR, the Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR. There are other cars eligible, but those are the only three brands that tested at Daytona, with the majority being Audis.

The GS class was easily the largest at the test, with 28 entries, including the Ford Mustang GT4, Audi R8 GT4,Mercedes-AMG GT4, BMW M4 GT4, McLaren GT4, Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and Porsche Cayman GT4 MR. The Chevrolet Camaro GT4-R is eligible and was raced last year by Stevenson Motorsports, but Stevenson closed its doors and there were no Camaros at the test. That should change before long.

The ST-class cars are typically converted street cars, while the GT4 and TCR cars are generally built and sold as race cars by the various manufacturers.

After all the hype, the testing, media availabilities and the talk, in only a few days Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso will strap into a Ligier LMP2 prototype for United Autosports with co-drivers ...